Trek audiobooks back on the menu!

[DarkHorizon]

So, a few days ago, I posted the latest blurbs for 2017's novel releases.

One thing I noticed in looking over Simon & Schuster's site was the inclusion of an 'Unabridged Audio Download' version on some of the releases. However, I wasn't sure whether it might be an error (as I believe has happened in the past), so didn't mention it.

Now, Dayton Ward has confirmed that Headlong Flight is getting an audiobook release!

It seems that sales and reviews of the recent Star Trek: Legacies trilogy are strong enough that it’s encouraged Simon & Schuster to experiment with further expanding its Star Trek audiobook catalog.

So, going back to Simon & Schuster and taking the inclusion of that version as being correct, it looks like quite a few releases are coming:

The Face of the Unknown - December 27, 2016
Headlong Flight - January 31, 2017
Prey #1: Hell's Heart - February 7, 2017
Prey #2: The Jackal's Trick - March 7, 2017

Nothing else has such a listing yet, including Prey #3: The Hall of Heroes, but it's a pretty strong bet at least in the latter case...

 

[Therin of Andor]

I got excited when the "Legacies" authors started putting really cool pics of CD versions of their audio books on their Facebook pages and blogs, but sadly those CDs are not commercially available. Audio download only.

 

[JD]

Do they even still sell audiobooks on CD? Most of the stuff I see on Amazon is just the Audible digital versions.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Do they even still sell audiobooks on CD? Most of the stuff I see on Amazon is just the Audible digital versions.

Sure. The 2009 "Star Trek" movie and "Into Darkness" audios are on CD. I have them.

 

[Stevil2001]

Do they even still sell audiobooks on CD? Most of the stuff I see on Amazon is just the Audible digital versions.

BBC Audio sells Doctor Who audiobooks on CD... including, I think somewhat amazingly, audios of forty-year-old novelizations of forty-year-old stories. Who'd have thought there's an audience?

 

[Therin of Andor]

Until 2006, Simon & Schuster had their abridged audios on cassette tape, with only a few titles also available in a CD option, such as the Sulu original adventures (1994-) and the Alien Voices' "Spock vs Q" productions (1999- ). "Captain's Glory", Book 3 of a Shatner trilogy, was the first CD-only version. While still abridged, by this time CD technologies were opening up the commercial possibilities for longer unabridged audios.

About that time, though, the bottom fell out of the Trek audio market. IIRC, there was a quite a backlash on abridged titles at that time.

 

[Tosk]

Still waiting on an unabridged Stitch in Time read by the author and/or the Kirk autobio read by "the author", please and thank you.

I don't care if they're unlikely, until Andy and Shatner are dead there's always hope.

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

But what about original audio plays? Works written specifically for the medium, exploiting its strengths, rather than adapted from some other medium?

 

[Therin of Andor]

But what about original audio plays? Works written specifically for the medium, exploiting its strengths, rather than adapted from some other medium?

Well, according to what John Ordover used to say, original audio plays would require a separate license, one that has never been held by Simon & Schuster Audioworks.

The closest we've had would be the Alien Voices' "Spock vs Q" productions. John De Lancie was behind Alien Voices, with the late Leonard Nimoy. They did a number of classic SF dramas on audio with Trek actors - http://alienvoices.net/ - and then added the "Spock vs Q" debates.

And there were also the three short Sulu/Excelsior dramas, but again, really just blocks of different people giving reports.

 

[Peak]

"The Face of the Unknown" is up for preorder now on Audible..

 

[Danlav05]

But what about original audio plays? Works written specifically for the medium, exploiting its strengths, rather than adapted from some other medium?

bigfinish.com

They should do it

 

[ATimson]

For people looking to purchase, I'd recommend downpour.com over Audible. Better quality, and DRM-free.

 

[borgboy]

I'm not familiar with downpour. When I checked out their website I saw they have two of the Prey books available for pre order. They're not up at Audible yet, but that's exciting to see that since I'd never heard there was confirmation they were even getting made.

 

[Defcon]

Headlong Flight - January 31, 2017

Seems to me that this one will be recorded soon. Dayton posted this a couple of days ago on FAcebook:

Listen up, Star Trek audiobook fans!

I'm currently reviewing and making additions/corrections to the "pronunciation guide" that the narrator and director will be using as they record the audiobook adaptation of HEADLONG FLIGHT, my STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION novel comin' at ya in late January.

So, we've got that going for us, which is nice.

 

[Dave Scarpa]

I like the ease of Audible, but it does seem the bitrate is rather low leading to some artifacting.
What does everyone think of the Narrator, I'm listening to Captain to Captain Now and he does a decent job with the
various dialects

 

[ATimson]

I like the ease of Audible, but it does seem the bitrate is rather low leading to some artifacting.

Yes, it is/does. Consider this another plug for Downpour. (If you have an iPhone, the M4A audiobooks are nearly as convenient as Audible and higher quality to boot.)

What does everyone think of the Narrator, I'm listening to Captain to Captain Now and he does a decent job with the
various dialects

I was very impressed with his impressions of the main cast members. I'm wondering if the same is going to continue with the TNG novel Headlong Flight...

 

[Desert Kris]

BBC Audio sells Doctor Who audiobooks on CD... including, I think somewhat amazingly, audios of forty-year-old novelizations of forty-year-old stories. Who'd have thought there's an audience?

Two kinds are the most bang for one's buck.

The first are the novelizations that deviate and expand on the original TV story. Those are great for the extra scenes or the deleted scenes, or a completely reimagined set up. The best of these will also get rid of a pointless chase sequence.

The other type that is worth getting are the novelizations for stories that were destroyed by the BBC. I rewatch the existing TV stories plenty of times, but if I want to re-experience one of those destroyed stories I would have to read the book (and I'm a slow reader, so even those small novelizations take up precious reading time). With the audiobook (or the story's audio recording, I can re-listen while driving.

 

[Dayton Ward]

I was very impressed with his impressions of the main cast members. I'm wondering if the same is going to continue with the TNG novel Headlong Flight...

It's my understanding that the same actor, Robert Petkoff, is doing the narration for Headlong Flight.

 

[ATimson]

It's my understanding that the same actor, Robert Petkoff, is doing the narration for Headlong Flight.

Yes, that's what S&S shows. My comment was more in regards to whether we'll get as accurate a rendition for "less iconic" characters. I will be pleasantly surprised if it's at the same level as Legacies, but I'm trying to temper my expectations.

 

[DantePD]

BBC Audio sells Doctor Who audiobooks on CD... including, I think somewhat amazingly, audios of forty-year-old novelizations of forty-year-old stories. Who'd have thought there's an audience?

If you dig those, you REALLY need to check out the stuff the crew over at Big Finish have done. New stories, Classic Doctors. Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann (Who made the Eighth Doctor AWESOME with his audios), David Tennant, and John Hurt have all participated. Plus spin-off series for UNIT (Featuring Kate Stewart), Countermeasures (From Remembrance of the Daleks), River Song, and the audio revival of Torchwood!

(I swear, I don't work for Big Finish, I just adore what they've done and wish someone could do the same thing for Prime Universe Trek)